The Paper Bag Game Suitable for Purpose To learn about how current global economic systems in some areas of the world are pressuring children and families to work long hard days for very little money, forcing families around the world, living and working in incredibly poor conditions, to resort to child labour, prostitution and dangerous jobs. Materials needed Glue, Newspapers, announcement list, How to make a paper bag cards, Family shopping lists, a calculator. Time 40 minutes How to run the activity Explain that each group represents a family living in a crowded and poor shantytown in Kolkata. There is a huge demand for paper bags, which are mainly made by women and children from the poorest families. Some bag makers buy their paper from warehouses, which are called go-downs. Others collect it free from local households. Boiling water and flour, and adding an anti-fungal chemical makes the glue. In real life, paper bags are sold in batches of 22, called gistas. On average, one child makes 200 bags a day, earning up to 1.5 rupees per gista that s 13 rupees (less than 18 pence) a day. For the purposes of this game, the figure has been rounded up to one rupee per batch of ten bags meaning that however poor the players feel at the end of the game, the reallife situation for the bag makers is even worse. Tell the groups that they have to survive for a day by making and selling as many paper bags as possible. They have 30 minutes. Show the groups how to make a bag using a sample bag so everyone can see, then ask them to start making bags. Each time a batch of ten bags is ready, a group member should take them to the shopkeeper (you) to sell, while the others continue making bags for the next batch. The shopkeeper checks that each bag is properly made, and makes a note of how much the group has made. Read out the announcements randomly they change the conditions each group is working under. Each group keeps its own checked bags. With younger children it is easier if the shopkeeper keeps the bags and notes down how many each group produces. Note how the groups organise themselves. Some will operate a production line with each member specialising in one task; in other groups individuals will make their own. When they have finished making bags, don t let them wash their hands straight away. Point out that many bag makers don t have the luxury of soap and running water.
Discussion Look at the family shopping list, what they would buy first with their money and why? What are the priorities? What cant they afford? Who did survive? Who didn t survive? What would it feel like to make paper bags all day every day? Did any groups join together? Why? Did it mean you could make more bags? Why are the shopkeepers so powerful? Why do prices rise and fall? Notes for those running the activity Try to recycle all the paper used in this activity.
Shopkeeper announcements There are too many bags in stock and the demand is lower. Families now have to make 15 bags for 1 rupee instead of 10 There is a shortage of bags in stock and the demand is higher. Families will now be paid 2 rupees for 10 bags instead of 1 rupee The size of the bag wanted has changed. All bags have to now be half the size. Work out how to make them. The size of the bags wanted has changed. All bags have to now be tall and narrow. Work out how to make them. A fire has destroyed the shopkeepers current stock of paper bags. The first family to provide the next batch of bags will be paid double. Two of the families (you decide) live in a part of the city that has flooded. They must wait 3 minutes for the floodwaters to subside before making any more bags. There has been a cholera outbreak. Two members of each family have fallen ill and cannot make paper bags for 5 minutes.
PATEL KUMAR MANEESH BHANJEE GHANESH SINGH Bags Rupees Bags Rupees Bags Rupees Bags Rupees Bags Rupees Bags Rupees